Munich Startup: What does Emidat do? What problem do you solve?
Lisa Oberaigner, CEO and Co-Founder of Emidat: We are building the world’s leading environmental operating system (eOS) for the construction industry. We are starting to develop an AI-powered environmental data generation solution for building material manufacturers. This data helps manufacturers to create LCAs and EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) for their products – a process that is currently very time-consuming and cost-intensive. We manage to reduce the time it takes to create an EPD from around twelve months to one week and cut the costs from around 15,000 euros to just a few hundred euros per product.
In the long term, we want Emidat to become the leading provider of climate intelligence in the construction industry. We collect environmental data directly where it is generated – at the building materials manufacturers – and make it available along the entire value chain. With our solution, we promote transparency and sustainability in the industry and thus make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Munich Startup: But that’s nothing out of the box!
Lisa Oberaigner: Tools already exist, but we are the first to have developed a manufacturer- and product-independent tool for creating verified environmental data. A key advantage of our technology is that we can skip the final, cost-intensive and time-consuming step of verification – our tool is already fully verified.
We automate data collection and processing and reduce manual input with the help of our AI model, which has been trained on over 130,000 existing EPDs. In this way, we make the entire process faster, more efficient and more cost-effective.
Construction industry is one of the biggest drivers of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide
Munich Startup: What’s your founding story?
Lisa Oberaigner: We both knew that we wanted to start something in the construction industry. After all, this industrial sector is one of the biggest drivers of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Florian, who comes from a family with 100 years of experience in the construction industry, and I, who had already studied sustainability in the construction industry during my Master’s degree, knew that we wanted to make a difference in this industry.
Initially, we wanted to pass on existing data to project developers and architects to help them make more sustainable decisions. However, at the BAU trade fair and in discussions with stakeholders, we realized that the real problem was not using the data, but collecting it. We saw great potential here, especially in view of the forthcoming Construction Products Regulation, which will gradually make the provision of this data mandatory.
Through more than 400 interviews with experts from the construction industry and other relevant stakeholders, we were able to validate our hypotheses and further refine the business model.
Challenge: Building a team
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Lisa Oberaigner: One of the biggest challenges for us was building a strong and competent team. In addition, we had to reconcile the many requirements and wishes of our customers with the need to develop a scalable and future-proof product.
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in a year, where would you like to be in five years?
Lisa Oberaigner: In a year’s time, we want to be known by all building material manufacturers in Europe as an established name when it comes to generating environmental data. Emidat should be the preferred solution for the efficient generation of EPDs that promote transparency and sustainability in the industry.
In five years’ time, we want to be represented and known throughout the construction industry and provide the data basis for sustainable construction so that Europe can achieve its sustainability goals. True to the motto: “What you don’t measure, you can’t improve”.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Lisa Oberaigner: Very positive! Thanks to networks such as UnternehmerTUM or the CDTM, there is a lot of exchange and networking opportunities with other startups. Many of the founders know each other and are always ready to help if there are any questions.
Among other things, we were based at the Munich Urban Colab, which is a great startup hub in the middle of the city. Many innovative companies meet here regularly and exciting events are held to promote exchange.
Emidat: business model with impact
Munich Startup: Hidden Champion or Shooting Star?
Lisa Oberaigner: We currently see ourselves more as a hidden champion. The construction industry may seem unsexy to many, but as one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, it offers enormous potential for innovation and sustainability. It is also a huge industry that is still not very digitized. With Emidat, we have developed a business model that can have an enormous long-term impact.
